Anchor apparatus



Dec. 20, 1966 0. K. GOODWIN ANCHOR APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR OLuE KGooDwm ATTORNEY.

Dec. 20, 1966 0. K. GOODWIN ANCHOR APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1964 m mm w WD 10 O K m O ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 O. K. GOODWIN ANCHOR APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 18, 1964 INVENTOR OLUE KGOODLUIH ATTORNEYS Dec. 20, 1966 0. K. sooowm ANCHOR APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 18, 1964 INVENTOR OLUE KGooounu BY WWW ATTORNEYS 1965 0. K. sooowm 3,292,565

ANCHOR APPARATUS Filed Sept. 18, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTOR OLLIE Kfiooowuq BY MM 971m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,292,565 ANCHUR APPARATUS Ollie K. Goodwin, Newport News, Va., assignor to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Sept. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 397,381 9 Claims. (Cl. 1142ll8) The present invention relates to new and novel anchor apparatus, and more particularly to anchor apparatus of the type including a support means and a body means wherein the body means is pivotally supported by the support means and is adapted to trim to a position wherein the fiukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank when the anchor is aweigh, thereby facilitating raising of the anchor into a stowed position.

Anchor apparatus of the type discussed hereinafter is generally referred to as a stockless anchor, and the construction of conventional stockless type anchors presents major problems in anchoring a vessel and raising the anchor when it is desired to get under way, particularly where large anchors are involved as employed with marine ships and large boats. These relatively heavy anchors are cumbersome and unwieldy for manhandling and many of the larger vessels have no provision for such handling. The anchor and chain generally are lowered under winch and/ or brake control from the stowed position and when leaving anchorage are hauled by winch back into the stowage position. Stockless anchors are generally designed to stow with the shank of the anchor drawn into a hawse pipe and with the fiukes hauled snug against the shell plating or stowage recess plating. However, while hoisting a stockless anchor, the angle of the flukes has proven to be a problem and has resulted in severe scarring and damage of the outer shell of the ship.

In fact, when employed with modern ships having side shelds with extreme flare, the flukes may be pivoted inwardly toward the shell and will not be cammed outwardly and on occasion may penetrate the hull.

Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide an anchor apparatus wherein a pivotal interconnection is provided between the support means and the body means of the anchor which is positive operating and trouble-free and which requires no contact by the operators when lowering or raising the anchor such that when the anchor is weighed, the fiukes of the anchor will trim to a position substantially parallel with the anchor shank which represents the optimum position for hauling in and stowing of this type of anchor.

The arrangement of the present invention is also such that the fiukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank until the shank is very nearly in a horizontal position. This permits the anchor to be drawn into its stowage position while requiring a minimum aperture in the shell and without damaging the shell. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates the necessity of providing bolsters about the end of the hawse pipe which are generally employed in the prior art to position the anchor when hauling it snug or aboard the vessel.

A particular advantage of the stowage arrangement of the present invention is the fact that the anchor can be stowed entirely inboard of the line of the hull from such that there is no protuberance on the part of the anchor extending outwardly of the shell. This is of course a very desirable end result.

Prior art anchors have been provided with arrangements for causing the fiukes to trim out substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor, and this type of anchor has generally been termed a balanced anchor. In order to obtain this result, such prior art balanced anchors have employed an arrangement wherein the overas to inflict injury and damage on the shell.

all center of gravity of the body means of the anchor is disposed below the pivot axis which pivotally interconnects the body means with the support means or shank of the anchor. This arrangement will of course tend to cause the flukes to trim into the desired lifting position, but this arrangement also causes the flukes to remain substantially vertical even when the shank moves from its vertical position into a non-vertical position as it is being hauled into the ship. This is highly disadvantageous since the fiukes do not remain substantially parallel with the shank as it is being hauled into the ship thereby causing the fiukes to be in such a position Additionally, a much larger aperture must be provided for receiving the anchor in such a case.

A further disadvantage of the so-called balanced anchor arrangement is the fact that since the weight of the body means is normally below the pivot axis, this arrangement tends to keep the fiukes up when the anchor is resting on the bottom of the sea. In other words, the center of gravity of the body means is such'as to create a moment tending to keep the flukes up out of anchoring operative position. This is of course disadvantageous since it then becomes necessary for the tripping palms to develop sufiicient forces to overcome this moment created by the weight of the body means and to trip the fluke means into the operative position.

The present invention employs a novel arrangement wherein the body means is pivotally supported for movement in opposite directions with respect to the support means or shank, the body means being mounted for such pivotal movement about two separate spaced independent pivot axes. The center of gravity of the over-all body means is located in a unique manner with respect to these two pivot axes.

Considering a line drawn through the pivot axes, the over-all center of gravity of the body means is disposed above this line or away from the line in a direction toward the upper end of the shank. This arrangement is such that when the anchor is on the bottom of the sea, the weight of the body means will develop a moment which'actually tends to pivot the fiukes of the anchor into their operative position. This is highly advantageous and is a completely dilferent result than is obtained with conventional balanced anchors.

In addition, the center of gravity of the over-all body means is disposed such that it is spaced between a pair of parallel planes which pass through the said two pivot axes and which also are disposed substantially per-pendicular with the said line passing through said axes. The anchor is further provided with limit stop means which limits the pivotal movement between the body means and the shank of the anchor. This pivotal movement is so limited that the center'of gravity always remains within the aforedescribed desired limits such that when the anchor is aweigh, a constant trim moment is produced which tends to cause the flakes to trim into a position substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor. Accordingly, it is apparent that with the arrangement of the present invention, the over-all center of gravity of the body means is so disposed as to develop the desired moments both when the anchor is aweigh and when it is on the sea bottom. This is a unique concept and a substantially improved result not obtainable with prior art anchors.

Additionally, by positioning the center of gravity of the over-all body means such that it is relatively close to the said line passing through the pivot axes, the flukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank until the-shank is nearly in a horizontal position. Only when the shank is nearly horizontal is a suflicient moment de- 3 veloped by the weight of the over-all body means so as to cause the force to overcome frictional forces in volved so that the'body means will then tend to pivot into a position wherein the flukes would be out of parallel relationship with the shank.

Another problem encountered with conventional anchors is that of tumbling. This occurs when the anchor is being moved into its operative anchoring position. Such tumbling generally is caused by one fluke digging deeper into the sea bottom than the other fluke which causes the anchor to roll to one side and break free from the sea bottom. It is then necessary to reset the anchor. This undesired tumbling is overcome in the present invention by providing novel tripping means. In the present invention the tripping means includes a pair of tripping palms extending downwardly and outwardly from each fluke and defining an included angle of substantially 90 degrees between the palms. In addition, the lower surface of the tripping means at opposite sides of the body means slope inwardly and upwardly toward the central portion of the body means to define a dihedral angle. This dihedral angle tends to stabilize the anchor after the flukes dig into the sea bottom causing the anchor to drag in a straight line. If one fluke tends to dig in deeper than the other, the sloping surfaces of'the tripping means tend to provide lift to the fluke which digs in deeper thereby tending to move the anchor into a level position.

Several different modes of stowing the anchor with respect to a ship shell are disclosed herein, and in a first form of stowage, the hawse pipe opens through the outer shell of the ship and is provided with a flared lower lip. This flared lower lip permits the shank means to be drawn into the hawse pipe, and the fiukes of the anchor will remain substantially parallel with the shank until i the tips of the fiukes engage the outer surface of the shell whereupon the fiukes will be pivoted into an angular relationship to fit snug against the outer surface of the shell while the shank is drawn up into its operative stowed position within the hawse pipe. This arrangement permits a minimum size opening to .be provided in the ship shell and eliminates the necessity of providing any bolster means.

In a second form of the stowage means according to the present invention, the shell is provided with a recess portion, the hawse pipe opening into the inner surface of this recess portion. Cam surfaces are provided in the recess to engage the fluke means and to guide the fiukes of the anchor into the desired final position Within'the' recess. Here again, the arrangement wherein the fiukes remain substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor is an important feature which cooperates with the cam surfaces and the recess portion to permit the anchor to move into the final stowed position wherein the anchor is completely enclosed within the recess and does not protrude externally of the shell.

In a still further modified form of the stowage means of the present invention, a recess is provided in the shell with the hawse pipe opening into such recess. The lower lip of the recess is flared outwardly to the shell,

and the anchor is adapted to move into a final stowed' position wherein the fluke means extend to a point closely adjacent the innermost portion of the recess while the shank means extends upwardly within the hawse pipe. In this latter modification, the fluke means may substantially fill the outer portion of the recess so as to serve as a plug for the recess.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and novel anchor apparatus which provides a continuous return moment which when the anchor is aweigh causes the fiukes to move to a trim position wherein the fiukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of anchor apparatus wherein the fiukes will remain trimmed to a position substantially parallel with the shank While the anchor is aweigh until the shank is nearly in a horizontal position thus facilitating movement of the anchor into a stowed position and. requiring a minimum aperture in the shell.

A still further object of the invention is to provide anchor apparatus wherein the body means is so pivoted with respect to the support means that the weight of the body means develops a moment which assists in tripping the fiukes ,into operative position when the anchor is on the sea bottom Still another object of the invention is to provide anchor apparatus of the stockless type including a novel arrangement of the tripping means to stabilize the anchor and to prevent tumbling when setting the anchor.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of anchor apparatus of a novel design which cooperates with a unique recess arrangement in a ship shell such that bolsters can be eliminated on the surface of the shell and wherein the anchor means can be completely stowed inboard of the outer surface of the shell.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in section illustrating the stowage arrangement of the present invention wherein the body means of the anchor is stowed externally of the shell and snugly thereagainst;

FIG. 1a is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the anchor in stowed position;

FIG. 2 is a view partly in section of a modified form of the stowage arrangement wherein the shell is provided with a recess for completely enclosing the anchor;

FIG. 2a is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating this modification of the invention with the anchor in stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a view partly in section of the still further modified form of the stowage arrangement wherein the anchor is adapted to be completely enclosed within a recess in the shell;

FIG. 3a is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating this form of the invention with the anchor being hauled into stowage position; 7

FIG. 3b is aview similar to FIG. 3a illustrating the anchor in its stowed position in this modification of the invention; 2

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a first modification of the anchor apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom 'view of the body means of the anchor shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 77 of FIG. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

, FIG. 8 is an elevation of the support or shank means 'of the anchor shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the shank shown in FIG..8;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view taken along line 1010 of FIG. 8 looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the first modified form of the anchor apparatus; 7

FIG. 12 illustrates the anchor shown in FIG. 11 as it is being set in the sea bottom and as it moves into its operative anchoring position;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the assembled anchor shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the anchor shown in FIG. 13 with the central portion of the anchor shown in cross section to illustrate the details thereof; 2

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 15-45 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1616 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 17-17 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1818 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view similar to that shown in FIG. 18 and illustrating the components in a different relative position.

- Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a first modification of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-19 inclusive. This modification includes a support means indicated generally by reference numeral 50 and a body means indicated generally by reference numeral 52, the body means being mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the support means as hereinafter described.

The support means 50 includes an elongated shank 54 of generally rectangular cross sectional configuration and wherein each of the four sides of the portion may be dished out to lighten the apparatus. The shank 54 terminates in a reduced portion 56 at the upper end thereof, this reduced end portion having a hole 58 extending therethrough. Suitable attaching means is connected with the upper end of the shank, and this attaching means may take the form of a U-shaped member 60 which is pivotally interconnected with the upper end of the shank by means of a pin 62 which extends through aligned openings formed in the two opposite legs of U-shaped member 60, the pin also extending through hole 58 provided in the shank, the ends of the pin being peened over to maintain the pin in operative position.

As seen most clear-1y in FIGS. 4, 8-10 and 18, the lower end of the shank is provided with an enlarged support portion indicated generally by reference numeral 70. This support portion includes laterally extending parts 72 and 74 as seen in FIG. 9 which extend oppositely from opposite sides thereof.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 8 and 18, the opposite end portions of the parts 72 and 74 are of arcuate configuration so as to define a pair of spaced arcuate surfaces 76 and 78. In other words, each of pants 72 and 74 includes arcuate portions 76 and 78 at opposite ends thereof. It will be appreciated that there is accordingly provided a pair of arcuate surfaces 76 at one side of the support portion and a similar pair of spaced arcuate sur faces 78 at the other side of the support portion, these pairs of arcuate surfaces 76 and 78 serving as the support surfaces for mounting the body means for movement with respect to the support means as hereinafter described.

Each of the arcuate surfaces 76 is formed on an arc having its center at the point a radially inwardly thereof. In other words, the point a represents the center about which an arc may be drawn to define the outer surface 76. The pair of outer surfaces 76 are formed about similar points a, and these points a may have a line drawn therethrough to provide a pivot axis for the body means as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In a similar manner, the two pairs of arcuate surfaces 78 are also formed as arcs about a point b, and a line drawn through the points b represents a second pivot axis for the body means. It will accordingly be noted that the pairs of arcuate surfaces are such as to support the body means for movement about a pair of separate spaced independent pivot axes, a first pivot axis passing through points a, and a second pivot axis passing through points b.

The arcuate surfaces 76 and 78 curve downwardly and intersect upwardly sloping surfaces 80 and 84 as seen for example in FIGS. 8 and 18, these upwardly sloping surfaces merging into recesses 82 and 86 defined in the undersurface of the lower support portion of the shank.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 4 and 10, a pair of spaced depending stop portions 90 are provided, these portions extending downwardly from the lower support portion of the shank and also serving to define with the surfaces and 84 the aforementioned recesses 82 and 86 the purpose of Which Will be hereinafter described.

It will also be noted as seen in FIG. 9 that the lowermost outer ends of parts 72 and 74 are rounded off as indicated at 72' and 74' or in other words are cut away so as to facilitate pivotal movement between the body means and the shank.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 14, the body means includes laterally extending portions 102 and 104 which extend oppositely from the opposite sides of the crown portion 100. Flukes 106 and 108 extend upwardly from these portions 102 and 104 respectively, the flukes being of relatively conventional construction and being dished at opposite sides thereof as indicated by reference numerals 196' and 108' respectively. The cross sectional configuration of the flakes may be seen most clearly for example in FIG. 16 wherein the dished portions 108' at opposite sides of fluke 108 are illustrated. The flukes are provided with pointed upper end portions which are adapt ed to dig into the sea bottom when the anchor is being set.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4-7 and 11-15, a first pair of tripping palms or portions 110 extend downwardly and outwardly from portion 102 of the body means. A similar pair of tripping palms or portions 112 extend downwardly and outwardly from the portion 104 of the body means. These tripping palms are of a unique configuration and as seen particularly in FIG. 15, each of the tripping palms 110 is of slightly arcuate configuration but has a longitudinal axis which is indicated by the phantom line in this figure, the longitudinal axis of these tripping palms forming angles x and y with a vertical plane passing through the center of the body means. Each of angles x and y is substantially a 45 degree angle whereby the palms define a 45 degree angle with respect to said vertical plane with the tripping palm axes being disposed substantially degrees from one another. It should be understood that the tripping palms 112 are oriented in the same manner as discussed above in connection with tripping palms 114). This arrangement of each tripping palm disposed at a 45 degree angle as aforesaid is considered to provide superior results to the conventional tripping palms which extend at substantially 90 degree angles to a vertical plane passing through the body means.

The lower surfaces of the tripping palms are also so formed as seen in FIGS. 6 and 14 that they taper upwardly and inwardly toward the central portion of the body means as seen in these figures. As noted particularly in FIG. 14, the lower surfaces and 112 of the tripping palms 11%) and 112 respectively define dihedral angles z with respect to a horizontal line passing through the lowermost edge of the tripping palms. This dihedral angle may be on the order of approximately 15 degrees, and as mentioned previously this dihedral angle of the lower edges of the tripping palms tends to stabilize the anchor after the fiukes dig into the sea bottom and cause the anchor to drag in a straight line.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 6, the central crown or socket portion 1% includes an elongated slot 129 which extends in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a vertical plane passing through the central portion of the body means and through the longitudinal axes of the fiukes, this slot being adapted to receive the shank of the support means and permitting pivotal movement of the body means with respect to the shank.

The crown portion provides a substantially dome-shaped recess therewithin as seen in FIG. 6, and two spaced support surfaces 122 and 124 are defined on opposite sides of the slot by the undersurface of the cavity formed within this crown portion. These surfaces 122 and 124 are adapted to be supported on the surfaces 72 and 74 of the lower support portion of the shank as seen in FIG. 9. As seen particularly in FIG. 7, support surface 124 is provided with arcuate portions 124 and 124" at the opposite ends thereof which are substantially complementary to the portions 76 and 78 formed on the support surface 74 at the bottom of the shank. This interrelationship may be seen most clearly in FIG. 18 wherein it will be noted that portion 124 is disposed adjacent portion 76 while portion 124 is disposed adjacent portion 78. It will be understood that the construction of support surface 122 is identical with that of support surface 124 with the opposite end portions of surface 122 being substantially complementary to the opposite end portions of the support surface 72 formed at the bottom of the shank.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 18 and 19, the body means is shown in the centered position supported on the vertically extending shank when the anchor is aweigh, and in this position the surfaces 122 and 124 of the body means as seen in FIG. 6 will be supported on the surfaces 72 and 74 of the lower support portion of the shank respectively as seen in FIG. 9. In this position,

the lowermost portion of the stop means 90 is spaced from a pin 130 which as seen most clearly in FIG. 14 is supported within suitable openings provided in depending side wall portions 132 and 124 of the crown portion 1130. This pin may have a head 136 formed at one end thereof while the opposite end 138 is peened over to retain the pin in its operative position as shown in FIG. 14.

It will be appreciated that the pin 130 permits the support means to be inserted in operative position as seen in FIG. 4 wherein the shank 54 of the support means is passed through the slot 120 of the body means, whereupon with the support means mounted in its operative position, the pin 130 may be inserted through the openings provided in portions 132 and 134 such that the support means and body means are retained in operative assembled relationship.

Tuming again to FIG. 18, the stop means 90 will limit the downward movement of the shank with respect to the body means such that when the anchor is initially dropped to the bottom of the sea, excessive shock will not be developed due to relative movement of the shank downwardly with respect to the body means. It will be noted as seen in FIG. 18 that the normal relationship of the pin 130 with the lowermost portion ofstop means 90 is such that there is a slight clearance to permit pivotal movement of the components with respect to one another, and yet at the same time only a small limited amount of relative vertical movement is permissible between the components.

After the anchor reaches the sea bottom and is towed along the sea bottom for a short distance, the tripping palms will tend to cause the flukes to pivot downwardly. This action will be understood from an inspection of FIG. 12 wherein it is noted that as the anchor is towed in the direction of the arrows as seen in this figure, the tripping gagement with the sea bottom. 7

Assuming that the action of the anchor is to tip the body means from the position shown in FIG. 18 to the position shown in FIG. 19, the body means will be supported for such movement due to the interengagement of surfaces 76 and surfaces 124' and '122 at one end of each of the surfaces 122 and 124 of the body means. As seen in FIG. 19, the body means may pivot into the position shown with the body means being supported by surfaces 76 at the lower end of the shank. As the body means pivots into this position, it is effectively pivoting about an axis passing through the points. a which form the center of curvature of the arcuate surfaces 76. It will of course be understood that if the body means pivots in the opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 18, to a position wherein the fiukes would be disposed to the right of the shank as seen in FIG. 19, the body means would then pivot about an efli'ective pivot axis passing through the points b which form the centers of curvature of the support surfaces 78 formed at the bottom of the shank.

It is accordingly clear from the foregoing that the body means is supported for pivotal movement about the lower end of the shank about two separate and independent axes, these two pivot axes passing through points a and b palms will tend to pivot the flukes downwardly into en- I shown in FIG. 18.

respectively being disposed substantially parallel with one another and further extending in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 18 and 19, the over-all center of gravity of the body means is disposed in a particular relationship with respect to the pivot axes extending through the points a and b. The over-all center of gravity of the body means as seen in FIG. 18 is disposed in a trim position such that it has a particular relationship with respect firstly to a line or plane cc passing such that it is spaced above the line or plane cc or in other words away from this line in a direction toward the upper end of the shank. In addition, it will be noted that the center of gravity is spaced between the planes dd and ee, and in the trim position shown in FIG. 18 this center of gravity is disposed substantially midway between these planes.

Turning now to FIG. 19, it will be noted that the body means has pivoted into its maximum angular position with respect to the shank wherein the fiukes extend at an angle of substantially 45 degrees with respect to the vertical or longitudinal axis of the shank. This pivotal movement of the body means with respect tothe shank is limited by interengagement of various surfaces on the support means and the body means. face of the slotv is in engagement with a lower lateral surface of the shank which positively prevents any further relative movement between thecomponents. In addition, the surface 84 and recess 86 are in engagement with the pin which further servesto prevent any further relative pivotal movement.

It will be noted that in the limit of pivotal movement as shown in FIG. 19, the center of gravity still lies in the same relative relationship to the lines and planes c----c,, dd and e-e. The significance of this particular interrelationship of the center of gravity with respect to the pivot axes will now be explained.

Firstly, referring to FIG. 19, it will be noted that when the body means is at the limit of its pivotal movement,

the center of gravity is disposed withrespect to the pivot axis a such that a moment is developed which tends to cause the body means to pivot back into the position In other words, since the center of gravity still remains inwardly of the pivot axis, or to the right of plane dd as seen in FIG. 19, a positive, trim moment is produced which will cause the weight of the body means to urge the body means back into the position.

shown in FIG. 18 wherein the fiukes are disposed substantially parallel with the shank.

It will be understood that when the body means pivots in the opposite direction such that the flukes would extend to the right of the shank 54 as seen in FIG. 19, the center of gravity will similarly more to a position slightly to the left of plane e e, such. pivotal movement being limited by interengagernent of the opposite end of slot 12% with a lateral surface of the shank and by engagement of the in 130 with the surface 80 and recess 82..

In this latter direction of movement, the center of gravity will still be disposed inwardly of the pivot axis such that a positive moment will be produced tending to cause the body means to trim back into its original position as shown in FIG. 18.

It is accordingly apparent that the anchor of the present invention will continuously provide a trim moment when As seen in FIG. 19, one end sur-.

the anchor is aweigh which tends to cause the flukes to trim into a position disposed substantially parallel with the shank of the anchor.

It is also noted that the center of gravity of the overall body means is always disposed away from the line or plane cc in a direction toward the attaching end of the shank. This has an important effect when the anchor is being set. In other words, referring to FIG. 12, when the anchor is being moved into anchoring position, wherein the shank may be disposed substantially horizontally, the center of gravity of the body means will be disposed forwardly of the line or plane within which the pivot axes are disposed. This interrelationship will cause the weight of the body means to tend to pivot the body means downwardly about such pivot axes so as to move the flukes of the body means downwardly into the operative anchoring position. In other words, the weight of the body means will assist in tipping the flukes over into operative position and will assist the tripping palms in producing this desired effect.

Additionally, it will be noted that the center of gravity is disposed only a relatively short distance from the line or plane passing through the pivot axes. This is further important since when moving the anchor into stowed position, the flukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank as the shank is tipped until the shank reaches almost a horizontal position. This is due to the fact that a relatively short moment arm is provided between the center of gravity of the body means and the pivot axes a and b whereby the weight of the body means does not produce sufiicient force to overcome the frictional forces involved until the shank is almost horizontal.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 1a of the drawings, the mode of stowing the anchor apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1-19 is illustrated wherein the anchor means is stowed externally or outside the shell of the ship. As seen in these figures, the outer shell of the ship is indicated by reference numeral 330, and a conventional hawse pipe 332 opens outwardly through the outer shell and extends inwardly therefrom. This hawse pipe is provided with a lower lip 334 which flares outwardly into the outer shell.

An anchor chain 336 is illustrated as being connected with the attaching means at the upper end of the anchor mechanism, and the Various components of the anchor have been given the same reference numerals as applied to FIGS. 1-19 of the drawings. The anchor chain may of course be suitably connected'with any mechanism for lifting and lowering the anchor.

As seen particularly in FIG. 1 in phantom line, the anchor is illustrated as being raised vertically, the flukes being automatically trimmed to a position wherein they extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank 54. As seen in full line in this figure, the shank is entering the hawse pipe and is bearing on the flared lip 334 of the hawse pipe. It Will be noted that the flukes, one of which is illustrated by reference numeral 106, remain parallel with the shank in this position.

The flukes will remain parallel with the shank until the outer tips of the flukes contact the outer surface of the shell whereupon the flukes will foilow the contour of the shell and the anchor will be moved into the final stowed position as seen in FIG. la. As seen in this latter figure, the flukes and the tripping palms 110 bear against the outer surface of the shell at an upwardly extending angle while the shank 54 is disposed within a hawse pipe. It is evident that the anchor mechanism may be moved into this stowed position with a minimum of possibility of damaging the outer shell of the ship. With this arrangement, no bolster is required about the outer end of the hawse pipe, and a minimum opening in the shell is necessary.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2 and 2a of the drawings, a modified form of stowage means is illustrated which can also be employed with the modification of the anchor as illustrated in FIGS. 1-19 inclusive. In this modification, the outer shell of the ship is indicated by reference numeral 340, and a recess portion provided for receiving the anchor is indicated generally by reference numeral 342. This recess is defined by a lower wall portion 344, an upper wall portion 346 and an inner wall portion 348. A conventional hawse pipe 350 is provided, this hawse pipe opening into the bottom wall of the recess and extending inwardly therefrom.

Cam surfaces 352 are provided at either side of the hawse pipe and are adapted to engage the flukes of the anchor as it is raised into the recess so as to lead the flukes up into the stowage position and to prevent fouling of the crown or tripping palms of the anchor.

An anchor chain 356 is illustrated as being connected to the attaching means at the upper end of the shank of the anchor, and an anchor chain may be connected with any suitable means for lifting and lower the anchor.

As seen in solid lines in FIG. 2, the anchor is being drawn into the recess 342, the shank resting upon a flared lip 345 at the point where lower wall 344 of the recess joins with the outer shell 340. It will be noted that the flukes are disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank 54 as readily visible from the position of fluke 106.

As the anchor is drawn further into the recess into the phantom line position shown in FIG. 2, the shank of the anchor is moving into the hawse pipe and the flukes of the anchor engage the cam surfaces 352.

Turning now to FIG. 2a of the drawings, the phantom line position illustrates an intermediate position wherein the flukes of the anchor have moved up along the cam surfaces 352 and into engagement with the inner wall 348 of the recess, while the tripping palms are spaced slightly from the lower wall 344 of the recess. The shank 54 has moved still further into the hawse pipe 350.

The solid line position illustrated in FIG. 2a shows the anchor in its stowed position wherein the flukes and the tripping palms are both pulled snugly up against the inner wall 348 of the recess while the shank 54 extends within the hawse pipe. In this stowed position, it will be noted that no portion of the anchor extends outwardly of the outer shell 340 thereby providing a clean shell configuration with no outside protuberance. In addition, no bolster is required on the shell in this arrangement.

The recess is preferably designed so as to maintain a clearance with the tripping palms until they have cleared the recess so as to facilitate dropping anchor.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 3a and 3b, a still further modified form of the stowage means of the present invention is illustrated wherein the outer shell of the ship is indicated by reference numeral 350. The stowage recess in this modification is defined by a lower wall portion 362 which has a lowerflared lip 364 joining with the outer shell 36%, the recess also being defined by an upper wall portion 356 and an inner wall portion 368. A conventional hawse pipe 370 opens through upper wall portion 366 and extends inwardly therefrom.

An anchor chain 372 is illustrated as being connected to the attaching means at the upper end of the anchor and may be connected with any suitable lifting and lowering mechanism.

As seen in FIG. 3, the anchor is being lifted into the recess, the shank 54 resting on the flared lip 354 and the flukes remaining parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank. As seen in FIG. 3a, the upper end of the shank is starting to enter the hawse pipe and the shank is at an even greater angle to the vertical, the fiukes still remaining parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank.

Referring now to FIG. 3b, the anchor is shown in its 'full stowed position wherein the shank extends upwardly within the hawse pipe, and the flukes have engaged the upper wall of recess 366 so as to pivot the flukes downwardly into the position shown. It will be noted that the stowed position is such that the flukes 106 as well as the other 1 l fluke 108 which is not visible have their outer tip portions disposed closely adjacent the inner wall 368 defining the recess.

The tripping palms in this particular modification may be of such a dimension as to substantially fill the outer portion of the recess formed in the shell whereby the anchor may eflectively serve as a stopper for the shell. This type of an arrangement has particular utility wherein a small recess is required such as in a submarine and wherein it is necessary to provide maximum ease of lead of the anchor into its stowed position.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention new and novel anchor apparatus incorporating a support means adapted to be connected to an anchor chain and a body means including flukes 'fonmed thereon for digging into the sea bottom. The construction is such that the body means is pivotally interconnected with the support means in -a manner whereby there is always provided a constant return moment to cause the body means to move into a trim position when the anchor is aweigh whereby the flukes will be disposed substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shank of the anchor. When the anchor is being raised, the flukes will remain substantially parallel with the shank in the trim position until the shank is nearly in a horizontal relationship thereby facilitating movement of the anchor into its stowed position and requiring a minimum size aperture in the shell of the ship. The pivotal interconnection of the body means with the support means and the relationship of the center of gravity of the body means with respect to the pivot axes are such that the weight of the body means will assist in tripping the flukes into operative position when the anchor is being set into anchoring position on the sea bottom. The present invention further provides a stockless type anchor including a novel arrangement of the tripping means so as to stabilize the anchor and to prevent tumbling when setting the anchor. The present invention also contemplates the provision of a combination of the anchor according to the present invention along with various stowage arrangements for stowing the anchor on a ship. These stowage arrangements include an external stowage means as well as recess portions formed in the shell of a ship such that the anchor can be stowed completely inboard and whereby bolsters may be eliminated from the ship shell adjacent the stowage area for the anchor.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention-is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall Within the mates and bounds. of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to beem-braced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Anchor apparatus comprising support means including an elongated shank having a longitudinal axis and including attaching means at the upper end thereof, the opposite end of said shank including a support portion at the lower end of the shank, said lower support portion defining spaced portions, body means including a socket portion having a transverse slot receiving said shank, means supporting said body means on said spaced support portions of the shank so as to pivotally interconnect the body means with the shank, said spaced support portions including two spaced curved surfaces having spaced predetermined axes extending transversely of said slot, so that the body means may pivot in opposite directions relative to the shank, such pivotal movement in opposite directions occurring about said two separate spaced pivot axes, said pivot axes being substantially parallel with one another and extending in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the shank, said pivot axes being displaced on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the shank, the undersurface of said lower support portion of said shank having a transversely extending recess adjacent each said curved surface, a pin traversing said socket portion and engaging in one of said recesses to limit the relative pivotal move ment between said body means and said shank, said body means having fluke means formed thereon and also having tripping means for engaging the sea bottom and moving said fluke means into operative anchoring position.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said socket portion is located in the central portion of said body means and wherein said fluke means includes a plurality of flukes formed symmetrically at either side of said central portion of the body means, and said tripping means also is formed at symmetrically opposite sides of the central portion of said body means, the center of gravity of said body means is disposed at said central portion thereof.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the over-all center of gravity of said body means is disposed relative to a line passing through said pivot axes such that the center of gravity is spaced from such line and is disposed away from said line in a direction toward the upper end of said shank.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said center of gravity is spaced a relatively short distance from said line passing through the pivot axes so that the fluke means of the body means will remain substantially parallel to said shank as the shank is moved from a vertical position toward a horizontal position, said flukes moving out of such parallel relationship only when said shank is disposed substantially horizontally.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said center of gravity is also disposed between a pair of parallel planes ext-ending substantially perpendicular to said line passing through the pivot axes, each of said planes passing through one of said pivot axes and extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said shank with the planes disposed equidistantly at opposite sides of-said longitudinal axis.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means for maintaining said center of gravity of the over-all body means within said parallel planes and spaced away from said line passing through. the pivot axes for constantly maintaining a trim moment when the anchor is aweigh to cause the fluke means to trim to a position disposed substantially parallel to said shank, said first named means including said engaging portions formed on said shank and said socket portion for limiting pivotal movement of said body means with respect to said shank.

7. Anchor apparatus comprising a support means including an elongated shank having attaching means at the upper end thereof, the lower end of said shank comprising a support portion, said support portion including a' pair of spaced support surfaces having a generally arcuate configuration, each of said surfaces being formed about an axis which comprises a pivot axis, said axes being in predetermined spaced parallel relation and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the shank, said support portion including a pair of recesses defined in the undersurface thereof, said recesses being separated by depend-. ing stop means; a body means having a central crown portion, said crown portion defining a socket means for receiving the lower support portion of said shank'means, the upper portion of said crown portion having an elongated slot formed therethrough, said shank extending,

through said slot and being movable within said slot, said body means supporting a pin means for engaging said stop means formed on the lower support portion and for being received within the recesses defined in the undersurface of said lower support portion, said crown portion also defining a pair of spaced arcuate surfaces having their respective axes of curvature in spaced relation and which are substantially complementary to the surfaces formed on said lower support portion and supporting the body' means for pivotal movement in opposite directions about said spaced separate pivot axes defined by said lower support portion, said body means including spaced fluke means and having a plurality of tripping palms formed thereon and extending outwardly thereof for engaging the sea bottom for moving the fiuke means into operative anchoring position.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the over-all center of gravity of said body means is located relative to a line passing through said pivot axes such that the center of gravity is spaced away from said line toward the first-mentioned end portion of said shank, said center of gravity also being spaced between a pair of parallel planes each of which passes through one of said pivot axes and said planes extending substantially perpendicular to said line through said pivot axes and also extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said shank and equidistantly therefrom, and means for limiting pivotal movement of said body means with respect to said support means so as to maintain the over-all center of gravity of the body means in the relationship aforedescribed such that there will be a constant trim moment when the anchor is aweigh which tends to cause the fluke means to trim into a position disposed substantially parallel with said shank.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said fluke means comprises a pair of spaced flukes disposed at opposite sides of the central portion of the body means and lying substantially in a plane, said tripping palms comprising a pair of palms disposed beneath each of said fiukes and extending downwardly and outwardly away therefrom, each pair of tripping palms associated with one of said fiukes defining an included angle of approximately degrees with the plane of the associated fluke, and the lower edges of said tripping palms defining surfaces at opposite sides of said body means which taper upwardly and inwardly toward the central portion of the body means to define dihedral angles at opposite sides of the body means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,420 10/1896 Baldt 114-208 735,985 8/1903 Kidd 114-208 895,648 8/1908 Laubeuf 114-206 913,367 2/ 1909 Downie 114208 1,033,033 7/1912 Mowry et a1 114208 1,899,866 2/1933 Harvey 114208 2,077,166 4/ 1937 Clement 114208 2,687,106 8/1954 Linnenbank et a1. 1l4208 FOREIGN PATENTS 239,142 1/ 1960 Australia.

622,373 7/ 1927 France.

131,795 6/ 1902 Germany.

132,808 3/ 1921 Great Britain.

685,456 1/ 1953 Great Britain.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. ANCHOR APPARATUS COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED SHANK HAVING A LONGITUDINAL AXIS AND INCLUDING ATTACHING MEANS AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SHANK INCLUDING A SUPPORT PORTION AT THE LOWER END OF THE SHANK, SAID LOWER SUPPORT PORTION DEFINING SPACED PORTIONS, BODY MEANS INCLUDING A SOCKET PORTION HAVING A TRANSVERSE SLOT RECEIVING SAID SHANK, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BODY MEANS ON SAID SPACED SUPPORT PORTIONS OF THE SHANK SO AS TO PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECT THE BODY MEANS WITH THE SHANK, SAID SPACED SUPPORT PORTIONS INCLUDING TWO SPACED CURVED SURFACES HAVING SPACED PREDETERMINED AXES EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SLOT, SO THAT THE BODY MEANS MAY PIVOT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS RELATIVE TO THE SHANK, SUCH PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS OCCURRING ABOUT SAID TWO SEPARATE SPACED PIVOT AXES, SAID PIVOT AXES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH ONE ANOTHER AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION WHICH US SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO THE DIRECTION OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SHANK, SAID PIVOT AXES BEING DISPLACED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SHANK, THE UNDER- 